Stem-holder for well-drilling machines.



A. S. DONZE & B. L.. WALTON.

STEM HOLDER FOR WELL DRILLING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7. 1915.

1 ,162,144. Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

. annrsoiv's. DONZE annizmrrnnwanron, or-sr, MARYS, wnsr VIRGINIA.

STEM-HOLDER FOB-WELL DRILLING MACHINES.

$1; ecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. so, 1915.

Application filed September 7, 1915. Serial No. 49,306.

To all whom it may concern .7

Be it known that we, ADDISON S. DONZE and BIRT LEE WALTON, citizens of the United States, residing at St. Marys, in the county of Pleasants and State of VVestVirginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stem-Holders for, Well- Drilling Machines, of which thefollowlng is accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to" an improved drill stem holder and guide for well drilling machines and the invention has for its primary object to provide a simple and effective supporting device which may be quickly adjusted to hold the drill stem out of the way when the well hole is being pumped or bailed or during spudding of the hole.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a drill stem holder and guide which is exceedingly simple in its construction, highly'serviceable and convenient in practical use and may be'easily and quickly mounted in operative position.

With the above and other objects in view, our invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination, and arrange ment of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which, 1 Figure 1 is a side elevation showing our improved drill stem holder and guide raised in its normaloperativevposition, with respect to the drill stem; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 22, of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33,of Fig. 2,

the ring or collar being shown in dotted lines in its lowered position to'hold the drill stem or tool at one side of the well hole.

In bailing or spuddingan oil well, it is necessary to entirely remove the drill stem which is frequently forty; to forty-five feet in length, and when this stem comes in contact with the ground after being lifted from the well, the same will fall over unless a support is provided for the stem at the upper end thereof. f

It is, therefore, the purpose of the present inventionto devise such a supporting means for the drill stem which shall be simple in its construction and very effective for the desired purpose, said support holding the drill stem above the ground in such position that it may be readily replaced within the well.

To this end, we shall herein disclose an embodiment of the invention which has been found very reliable 1n practical use, the con- .struction of which we shall now proceed to end of the body section of the collar. This latch section closes an entrance opening or throat in the collar, whereby said collar may be disposed around the drill stem or tool, indicated at S.- The free end of the latch section 8 of the'collar is adapted to be detachably connected to the other end of the body f the collar, by means of a removable locking pin 10.

o The body section ofthecollar 7 is pro-v vided at diametrically opposite points upon its periphery with the outwardly projecting rectangular lugs 11.

12 indicates a pair of arms, each of which has a square opening in one extremity to receive oneof the lugs 11. The other ends of the arms, 12 are loosely engaged upon the projecting bolt 6 between the uprights 5 so that said arms may freely swing in a vertical plane; intermediate of their ends and at a point adjacent the collar 7, the arms 12 are connected by the transverse rod 13.

l4 designates anadjusting bar loosely en gaged atone of its ends uponthe rod 13. This bar is formed with alongitudinal slot 15 through which a stud bolt 16 fixedin one.

of the uprightsj5 is disposed. l7 designates a'clamping nut threaded upon said bolt,

whereby the adjusting bar 1-Clmay be securely clamped in position upon the upright.

' As illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, 1

in the normal position'ofthe collar 7, the

same serves as a guide for the stem Sin the operation of the drill. In spudding the well hole, or in the operation of a bailer or pump, it is'necessary to support the drill l1 stem or tool in position at one side of the well hole so that it will not constitute an sren;

gaging said collar at diametrically opposite points with the stem S. Thus the stem is securely held at its upper end against any exconnection with the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that we have produced a simply constructed, serviceable and eflicient drill stem holder and guide which may be readily set up in position for use upon the ordinary well drilling machine. The ring or collar 7 may be very easily and quickly arranged in position upon the drill stem by opening the latch section 8 and as readily removed therefrom. It is apparent, of

' course, that'if preferred, two of the adjustable bars 14 might be provided, one of the same being mounted upon each of the up rights 5. i For all ordinary purposes, however,-we have found that a single. one of these adjustable bars is suflicient for the accomplishment of the desired en'd.-

While we have disclosed in the accompanying -drawing a guide ring or collar of circular form, it is apparent that thislcollar may beconstructed in various other shapes and also of any desired size. It might also be found desirable to employ other means thanthatherein disclosed for enabling the ring to be clearly and quickly arranged in circumscribing relation to the drill shaft.

It is, therefore, to be borne in mind that while we have specifically described one: modification of our invention, the device 1s,

nevertheless, susceptible of considerable modification thereln and we therefore reserve the privilege of resorting to all such minor changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and 'scopeof the invention,

as claimed. r 7

Having thus descnbed this nvention,

what we desire to claim as new and secure 1 by Letters Patent, is p L In combination, a guide collar provided with means for enabling the same to bearranged in circumscribing relation to a drill stem, arms fixed at one of their ends to relatively oppositesides 'ofthe collar and pivotally mounted at their otherends for ver-' tical swinging movement, and means con-v Copies of'this patent may be obtained for nected to said arms for adjusting thecollar and disposing the same at an angle with respect to the-axis of the stem and in binding contact therewith to hold said drill stem against movement. 7

2. Incombination, a guide collar adapted to be arranged in circumscribing relation to a drill stem, arms fixed at one of their ends to diametrically opposite sides of the collar and pivotally mounted at their other ends for vertical swinging movement, andmeans for holding the arms in an adjusted position and against such swinging movement, whereby said collar may be retained in an angular position upon the drill stem and in binding'engagement therewith to hold said stem against movement.

3. In combination, a collar adapted to be arranged in circumscribing relation to a drill stem, arms fixed at oneof their ends to diametrically opposite sidesof said collar,

'saa ced uori hts a rod connectin the u)- rights, said arms being mounted upon said rod at their other ends for vertical swinging movement, and means adjustable upon one of the uprights and connected to said arms for holding the same against swinging movement, and to retain thecoll'ar in anangular .position with respect to the axis of the drill stem and in binding engagement therewith to hold said stem against movement.

4. In combination, a collar provided with a movable latch section, whereby said collar may be arranged incircumscribing relation to a'drill stem, arms fixed at one of their ends to diametrically opposite sides of the collar, spaced uprights, said arms being mounted between the uprights at their other ends for vertical swinging movement, a rod connecting said arms and an adjusting bar loosely engaged at one of its ends on said, rod, and means for adjustably securing said bar upon one of the uprights to hold the arms against swinging movement and dispose said collar in a horizontal position to actas a guide for the stem or, in an angular position with respect to the axis of the stem and in binding engagement therewith to hold said stem against movement.

In testimony whereof we hereunto afiiX our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

AnnIsoN s. norvzu. BIRT LEE WALTON.

vWitnesses: 7

Ross \VELLs, 'C. P. CRAIG.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

